St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-04-30
TEMPORARY STARS.
Their Goings and Comings In
Mysterious Space.

Mysterious Space.
The Wonderful Connecting Link eta
Argus"-The Chinese s.Ploneer'' 0l
195 B. C.-Brahe's and Keplcrs
Stars-Andromeda's Wonder.
The appearance Of a new star in the
midst Of the great nebula in Andromeda
offers fitting opportunity to say few
words on stars Of similar character
which have from time to time blazed
forth in the heavens. Although the ap-
pearance Of a new star is unquestion-
ably a marvellous event, the existence
Of stars whose light varies is we'll
known astronomical fact. Patient OBJ
servation of the heavens during many
centuries has shown that there are hum
dreds Of such stars; and every year is
adding new members to the already
lengthy list The great difference be-
tween variable and temporary stars is.
that in the case of the former their
z~:od and maximum and minimum
SituCSS huOSus III OluCt WOiuS,
continued observation reveals the fact
that an ordinary variable star changes
from greatest brilliancy to least bril-
liancy in . certain definite time, differ
ent for different stars, and attains and
fades to. though it may be with slight
irregularities. a certain definite maxi
mum and minimum brightness. 1t is
therefore possible. after these points
have been determined, to predict with
tOlerable success the conduct Of the star
during longer or shorter period, &C
cording to the accuracy Of the observa-
tions. There are, it is true, variable
stars which display the most remarkable
eccentricity. The most wonderful OBJ
iect of this class is q star in the southern
heavens situated in the Keyhole nebula,
and known as Eta Argus. To give full
particulars of this star would occupy too
much space; suffice it to say. that from
being . comparatively faint object
it gradually increased in splendor. till,
after passing through numerous strange
fluctuations, it outshone Canopus, and
was surpassed only by Sirius. It re-
mained thus brilliant for some time;
but at length faded away till it was lost
to almost all eyes, and now shines as
star barely visible to the unaided vision.
Stars of this class form. doubtless,
kind Of bridge between the more regu-
larly variable stars and those which
suddenly blaze forth in the heavens.
In looking back over the history Of
temporary stars, we are struck first
with the rarity Of their appearance, and
next with the very meager accounts Of
them which have come down to US.
Though there are said to be frequent
references in the Chinese annals to the
appearance Of these objects. the first
historically recorded account Of such an
event occurred in the year l25 .. c.
We may infer, without much risk of
error. that Princes and potentates, with
. Enthusiastically undue sense Of their
own importance, looked upon this OBJ
iect rs blazing forth some event in their
own petty career. It had, luckily.
more useful and lasting effect, for Hip
parchus, an astronomer Of the school of
Alexandria, was led by its appearance
to construct the first recorded catalogue
of the stars. Over and above this fact,
we know little or nothing Of it; and
doubtless had it not come down to US
associated with the name Of Hipparchus.
its memory would long since have sunk
into oblivion. The next star which
hlaxed forth in the heavens was seen in
the wear SS9 A. D., and was situated
near the brightest star in the constella-
t;ou Of the Eagle. We know nothing
a it, further than that for three weeks |
Il remained as brilliant as Venus, and
then gradually faded away till it be-
came quite invisible.
But the two most remarkable of these
temporary stars appeared in compar-
etiyely modern times, and have been
Aescribed to us by the two celebrated
.14ronomers, Tycho Brahe and Kepler.
a stars Of equal brilliancy have ap-
,,eared since. and in looking back on
taern. the student Of astronomy can not,
- regret that the means of observa-
-. vere at that time 90 meager that
- have only the bare account of their |
,srying brilliancy and the time they
...;ned visible. The former of these
- appeared in the constellation Of
n.eiopeia in the year 1879. Tycho. in
Secsibing its apparition. tells US that
- the night Of the llth Of November.
q ra1urning from his laboratory to his
s-sllin9 house, he found . number Of
-.1ry people gazing at . star which |
q vss sure did not exist half
hour before The star when
zen equaled in brilliancy Sirius |
.e1 Jupiter. two Of the most lustrous
.s.r3e n the heavens. and gradually |
l.,.ss..eeed in splendor till it Fivaled
~e. and was quite visible at noon |
Il began to fade in the following |
.nh, and in March Of 1873. though |